The Hill reports that

House Democrats reached a deal with Republicans on legislation to avert a government shutdown after rekindling talks over disputed farm assistance, with a vote planned as soon as Tuesday night [/ tonight]. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement that Democrats had reached an agreement to add nearly $8 billion in nutrition assistance for low-income children and families in exchange for “accountability” in assistance for farmers sought by the Trump administration.

Yippee. Duly predicted by the FEHBlog.

The Wall Street Journal reports‘ that

U.S. health regulators have drafted guidelines that would require a Covid-19 vaccine to meet rigorous standards to gain clearance for use, according to people familiar with the matter. Among the proposed requirements is that a coronavirus shot reduce the rate of infections by 50% compared with placebo, which the regulators have already required for a regular approval of any Covid-19 vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted the draft plan for review last week to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, according to the people. The White House Office of Management and Budget is also reviewing the plan, the people said.

Rigorous. Good. People are more likely to trust vaccines that have been subjected to rigorous standards. A

Speaking of the FDA, that agency today “announced it is launching the Digital Health Center of Excellence within the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). The launch of the Digital Health Center of Excellence is an important step in furthering the agency’s overarching dedication to the advancement of digital health technology, including mobile health devices, Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), wearables when used as a medical device, and technologies used to study medical products.” Good move.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced today “that it will expand the Medicare Prior Authorization Model for Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (RSNAT) nationwide. The model has saved Medicare about $650 million over four years while preserving quality of care and access to essential services. * * * [Today’s] Second Interim Evaluation Report * * * found that the model reduced RSNAT service use by 63% and RSNAT expenditures by 72% among beneficiaries with end stage renal disease and/or severe pressure ulcers during the first four years of the model. This decrease in RSNAT service expenditures, in turn, caused a total decrease of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) expenditures of 2% (about $650 million over four years). The report did not find evidence that the model adversely affected quality of care.” It’s good news that CMS has found a way to reduce the cost of this service which is important to Medicare beneficiaries,